Golden Pal ready to shine in G3 Quick Call on Opening Day at Saratoga
At 0h03, on July 13, 2021 • By SARATOGA
Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg’s Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint-winner Golden Pal will make his seasonal debut in Thursday’s Grade 3, $120,000 Quick Call, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for sophomores on Opening Day of the 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course.
Golden Pal, trained by Wesley Ward, enjoyed a memorable juvenile campaign, finishing second in the Group 2 Norfolk at Ascot last June ahead of a stylish gate-to-wire maiden win in the 5 1/2-furlong Skidmore in August on the Saratoga turf, garnering a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure.
Sent to post as the odds-on favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, contested at 5 ½-furlongs over good going at Keeneland, Golden Pal set splits of 21.62, 44.63 and 56.42 seconds, holding off a late rally from Cowan to secure a three-quarter length score in a final time of 1:02.82.
Out of the 11-time stakes-winning Midshipman mare Lady Shipman, Golden Pal has posted five breezes dating back to June 6 in preparation for his sophomore debut, including an easy half-mile in 51.80 on the Belmont inner turf on Thursday.
“He’s doing really well. We’re excited about him,” said Ward. “I think he’ll be the best horse I ever had, but we’ll see if it comes out that way. He does things in the mornings that are just so impressive. He’s just an immensely talented horse and we’re looking forward to getting his season started here at Saratoga on Opening Day. Hopefully, that leads into the Breeders’ Cup at the end of the year.”
Irad Ortiz, Jr. retains the mount from post 3.
